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Anies set to allow religious activities in Monas
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The dancing fountain at the National Monument (Monas) on Aug. 12, 2017. (JP/Seto Wardhana)
J
akarta Governor Anies Baswedan plans to revise the prevailing governor regulation that bans people from holding religious ceremonies at the National Monument (Monas) park in Central Jakarta.
"Currently, Monas can't be used to host cultural, art, pengajian [Islamic learning forum] events and any religious activities. Therefore, we'll revise the governor regulation," Anies said on Monday according to kompas.com.
The plan, which was one of his campaign promises, was criticized by former Jakarta governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama.
Ahok said it was not the authority of the governor to allow religious activities, but the central government.
He referred to the presidential decree of 1995 on the development of Medan Merdeka Area in Jakarta stating that Monas should be a neutral zone.
"If the administration allows religious activities in Monas, will the people still be able to use the park for hanging out?" Ahok said.
